Controversial American Justin Gatlin
outsprinted up-and-coming compatriot Noah Lyles in the 100 metres at
Friday's Diamond League meet in Monaco where Sifan Hassan set a new
world best in the women's mile.
In balmy conditions at a packed Stade Louis II, the 37-year-old Gatlin
kept both his nerve and form after an average start to streak through
the finish line in 9.91 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second ahead of
much-vaunted Lyles, 21.
"It was a technical race tonight," said Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold
medallist and current world champion who served a doping ban between
2006-10.
"I just kept focused as I knew Noah would be coming after me like a bat out of hell!" Gatlin told AFP.
There was an outstanding performance in the women's mile, which is not
an Olympic or world distance, as Ethiopian-born Dutch runner Hassan came
home in 4min 12.33sec, smashing by 23 seconds the previous best set in
1996 by Russian Svetlana Masterkova.
Hassan, twice European champion over 1500m and once 5000m gold
medallist, cracked the field with two laps to go and streaked through
the line with teeth gritted, collapsing as the timer flashed up her
feat.
"The first 800m were a bit slow so I wasn't thinking it would be a world
record," said Hassan. "When I crossed the line I was so surprised."
"After you run the last 400m like that and set a world record it gives
you so much confidence over 5000m," said Hassan, who will aim for a
1500-5000m double in the September 28-October 6 world championships in
Doha.
Another experienced campaigner, Botswana's Olympic silver medallist
Nijel Amos, produced a stunning meet record in winning the men's 800m in
1:41.89 ahead of Kenya's Ferguson Rotich, France's world champion
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse only managing ninth in a high-quality race.
Only four runners have gone faster than Amos' time, which was the 15th fastest ever run over the distance.
"Everything has been good in the last few weeks and I knew I could run 1:41 today," said Amos.
"The world record is not on my mind but if I'm patient, it will come."
- Lisek vaults 6.02m -
Another star showing came in the men's pole vault where Poland's in-form
Piotr Lisek again went over the mythical 6m barrier, winning with a
best of 6.02m, going close three times at 6.06.
Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot cruised to victory in the men's 1500m in
3:29.97, European 1500 and 5000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen -- still
just 18 -- coming in second.
American teenager Sydney McLaughlin kicked off the evening in impressive
style, setting a world-leading 53.32sec in the 400m hurdles.
The 19-year-old led from the first hurdle and scorched around the track
in muggy conditions, with temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius (82F) and
high humidity.
There was further US success as world indoor champion Kendra Harrison
streaked to a 100m hurdles win in a season's best 12.43sec.
There was no Caster Semenya in the women's 800m won by American Ajee Wilson.
The South African double Olympic is not appearing in the Principality
despite having been cleared to run during her appeal at attempts by the
Monaco-based world governing body for athletics, the IAAF, to introduce
rules requiring female athletes in events between 400 and the mile to
take medication to reduce high testosterone levels.
In her absence, Wilson won easily in 1:57.73, almost three seconds off Semenya's best for the season.
A loaded field in the women's 200m saw Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the
Bahamas, the reigning Olympic 400m champion, win in 22.09sec ahead of
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson, who won the sprint double in Rio, and
two-time defending world 200m champ Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands.
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